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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE TENURE OF STATE SENATOR LAURA FINE
WHEREAS, State Senator Laura Fine is a lifelong Glenview resident and dedicated public servant; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine’s story of civil service began when she obtained her B.A. in telecommunications from Indiana University, followed by an M.A. in political science from Northeastern Illinois University; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine’s dedication to public service was evident from the beginning of her career, including her first work as a journalist in radio and television news for media outlets throughout the Midwest, as well as her service as a professor at Northeastern University, where she taught courses in the study of the Constitution and other areas of political science; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine first held elected office in 2009 when she served as Northfield Township Clerk, a position she held through 2012; and
WHEREAS, following her tenure as Northfield Township Clerk, Senator Fine represented the 17th District of the Illinois House of Representatives beginning in 2013 to 2019, the decision to run spurred on by a battle with a health insurance company following a car accident; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine has proudly served the 9th Senate District since January 6, 2019, where she is a member of several Illinois Senate committees including Chair of the Behavioral and Mental Health Committee, vice-Chair of the Insurance Committee, Environment and Conservation, Health and Human Services, Judiciary, Public Health, and Worker’s Compensation; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine is a known advocate for the environment and consumer safety, passing legislation reducing plastic pollution, reducing the use of “forever chemicals” and protecting children by ensuring baby food is free of toxic heavy metals; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine is an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, passing legislation that made it easier for transgender individuals to change their gender designation on their birth certificates and expanded access to infertility treatments for LGBTQIA+ couples; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine has tirelessly championed efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible by advancing legislation to expand insurance coverage requirements, strengthen the Illinois Department of Insurance’s authority to reject unjustified rate increases, and increase transparency for consumers when selecting and purchasing health insurance plans; and
WHEREAS, as Chair of the Behavioral and Mental Health Committee, she has made it her mission to reduce the stigma surrounding mental healthcare, expand access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and ensure that mental healthcare is covered by insurance on equal terms with physical healthcare; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine is woven into the fabric of the community as an active member of Kiwanis Club of Glenview-Northbrook, the Rotary Club of Glenview Sunrise, and the Glenview/Glencoe League of Women Voters; and
WHEREAS, most recently Senator Fine was elected chair of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus a binational, nonpartisan organization of state and provincial legislators passionate about policies to protect and restore the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin; and
WHEREAS, Senator Fine is lauded for her leadership and dedication to the betterment of the lives of Illinois residents; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby honor and celebrate Senator Fine’s nearly two decades of tireless work on behalf of her constituency; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to Senator Fine as a means of conveying our gratitude and appreciation for her years of dedicated service.
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